Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Sales and service revenues		$ 112,400	$ 102,200	$ 97,600
Investment gains/losses		9,373	3,575	4,065
Total revenues		210,821	194,673	182,150
Costs and expenses:
Interest expense		3,515	3,253	2,801
Total costs and expenses		175,875	166,568	153,354
Earnings before income taxes		34,946	28,105	28,796
Income tax expense		10,532	7,935	8,951
Net earnings		24,414	20,170	19,845
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		331	298	369
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ 24,083	$ 19,872	$ 19,476
Class A [Member]
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders:
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders	[1]	$ 14,656	$ 12,092	$ 11,850
Average equivalent Class A shares outstanding	[1]	1,643,183	1,643,456	1,643,613
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 41,294	$ 41,253	$ 36,684
Sales and service revenues		107,001	97,097	92,993
Interest, dividend and other investment income		5,235	5,026	4,934
Investment gains/losses		9,363	3,503	3,881
Total revenues		162,893	146,879	138,492
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		26,527	26,406	21,275
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		5,413	5,181	5,072
Insurance underwriting expenses		7,517	6,998	7,248
Cost of sales and services		87,029	78,873	75,953
Selling, general and administrative expenses		13,723	12,198	11,732
Interest expense		460	419	395
Total costs and expenses		140,669	130,075	121,675
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues		40,004	40,690	34,757
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses		27,650	29,378	25,157
Interest expense		2,653	2,378	1,865
Total costs and expenses		30,303	31,756	27,022
Finance and Financial Products [Member]
Revenues:
Sales and service revenues		5,430	5,094	4,635
Interest, dividend and other investment income		1,510	1,432	1,474
Investment gains/losses		10	72	184
Derivative gains/losses		974	506	2,608
Total revenues		7,924	7,104	8,901
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and services		2,915	2,758	2,566
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,586	1,523	1,550
Interest expense		402	456	541
Total costs and expenses		$ 4,903	$ 4,737	$ 4,657

[1] Average shares outstanding and net earnings per share are shown on an equivalent Class A common stock basis. Equivalent Class B shares outstanding are 1,500 times the equivalent Class A amount. Net earnings per equivalent Class B share outstanding are one-fifteen-hundredth (1/1,500) of the equivalent Class A amount or $9.77 for 2015, $8.06 for 2014 and $7.90 for 2013.